The CEFCU Jazz Series kicks off tonight on the Peoria riverfront.  Tonight's show,  featuring Kevin Hart & The Vibe Tribe from 7:30 - 9:30 pm, is free. For more information, click HERE.

The Illinois Shakespeare Festival opens tonight with A Midsummer Night's Dream at Ewing Manor in Bloomington beginning at 7:30 pm.  Scapin opens Friday and runs Saturday night also at 8 pm and A Midsummer Night's Dream plays again on Sunday night beginning at 7:30 pm.  Tickets range in price from $16 to $40 for individual seats and are available online at Ticketmaster.com . Season tickets are also available. There is also a free family-friendly version of Shakespeare's The Tempest on Saturday beginning at 10 am in the festival courtyard (bring lawn chairs for seating).  The show lasts 45 minutes and is geared toward children 9 years and older.  Although the show is free, reservations are required:  call 309-438-3334 or send an email to make your reservation.  For more information on the Festival, click HERE or call (866) IL-SHAKE. 

Eastlight Theatre continues the regional premiere of The Wedding Singer tonight through Saturday. Based on the Adam Sandler movie, it's 1985 and rock-star wannabe Robbie Heart is New Jersey's favorite wedding singer until his own fiancé leaves him at the altar. Shot through the heart, Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Peformances begin at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for senior citizens 65+ and $10 for youth through high school and are available at the Eastlight Box Office, by calling 699-SHOW or online HERE.

The Barn continues with Forever Plaid this weekend.  On Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays, doors open at 6 pm, buffet is at 6:30 pm, and the show is at 8 pm. On Sundays, doors & the buffet open at noon, and the show is at 1:30 pm. Prices are $30 for Thursdays, $32 for Fridays and Sunday brunch and $34 for Saturdays. For more information, call 965-2545 or click HERE.

The Peoria Junior League is hosting a Wine & Cheese Social from 6-8 pm tonight at the Junior League House located at 256 Randolph.  The Junior League, an organization of over 400 women, offers great networking, volunteerism, and the chance to build lasting friendships.  Since 1936, they have been committed to promoting voluntarism and improving our community.  Peoria's Race for the Cure, Family house, the Riverfront Playground, Julep's Closet, and Kids in the Kitchen are just a few of the past projects that launched by the Junior League.  For more information, call 303-4243.

Tim Wilson, known for his many guest appearances on the Bob and Tom radio show, will perform at the Jukebox Comedy Club this weekend.  He has sold over a half-million comedy albums in the last 10 years which include songs like "The Jeff Gordon Song," "First Baptist Bar and Grill" and "But I Could Be Wrong" among others. Shows are Thursday at  8 pm, Friday and Saturday at 8 pm and 10:30 pm.   Tickets for Tim's shows are $19, or $18  with cash except  for the Thursday show and the Friday late show which are $15 with cash.  For more information, call 673-5853 or click HERE.

Old Settler's Days will take place this weekend in downtown Metamora.  The carnival will be open from 5:30 - 10 pm tonight, noon - 10 pm Friday and Saturday.  Every night there are multiple drawings for gift certificates to local businesses. Must be over 16 to enter and be present to win. There is no cost to enter.  For a more detailed event schedule, click HERE.

Also tonight, enjoy Dancing Under the Stars at the Glen Oak Amphitheatre beginning at 7 pm featuring the Bill Hardesty Orchestra. Admission is free.

On Friday, the Contemporary Arts Center presents Live at the Five Spot featuring Hip Pocket (R&B, blues) at 5:30 pm. Admission is $7 for CAC members and $10 for non-members.

Relay for Life Race will take place this weekend for Pekin, Peoria, and Eureka.  For more information on each event, click HERE.

The Peoria Municipal Band Muni Band will perform Friday beginning at 7:30 pm at St. Philomena's and they'll play again on Sunday at the Glen Oak Amphitheatre at 7:30 pm.  Both events are free and open to the public.  The band is conducted by David Vroman.

Lakeview Aquatic Center is throwing a Fins to Left Parrot Head Party for all sailors, pirates, and brown-eyed girls, featuring the music of Jimmy Buffet from 7 - 10 pm on Friday. Come on out wearing your board shorts and bikinis, Hawaiian shirts, and pencil-thin mustaches for a shot at first prize in the "Best Dressed" contest. Dust off your best rendition of "Cheeseburger in Paradise" and come these family-friendly parties for all ages!  Cost is $5 per person

Also on Friday, the movie Happy Feet will be shown under Wildlife Prairie State Park's famous tepee shelter. The fee is $12 per carload. Gates open at 7:15 pm and show time is at 8 pm. Ice cream, popcorn, s'mores & drinks will be available for purchase.

The Universal Rhythm Assembly is a is a two-day music festival with a twist - a variety of music and an opportunity for people to listen "outside the box" - happening in downtown Peoria at the Riverfront Festival Park.  Also showcased will be many different special interest groups involving everything from the ecosystem we live in to issues that involve the world as we know it. Great food and spirits will be available too. Gates open at 3 pm both days, music starts at 4 pm. For full details of musical entertainment and ticket prices, click HERE.

The seventh annual Rhapsody in Bloom, a celebration of art, music, food, and bloom, will be held at Luthy Botanical Garden from 10 am - 5 pm on Saturday and Noon to 5 pm on Sunday. Spend the weekend browsing more than 50 booths by regional artists and listening to top entertainment groups in the area. Kids can enjoy art activities in the Children's Garden. Admission is $3 for adults and ages 12 & under are free.

Midsommar takes place this Saturday at Bishop Hill, just west of Kewanee.  The festival features swedish music, family activities, a maypole, dancing and refreshments, workshops, jamming and fun for the entire family. Main stage concerts begin at 11 am. Decorating the maypole & procession to the Colony School for the Midsommar Celebration being at 4 pm. The event is free. For more information, call 927-3345 or click HERE.

On Saturday, Dream Center Peoria invites you to attend an Acts of Kindness (AOK) Summer Cookout at various Peoria-area sites. Locations include Glen Oak School, Morton Square Park, Peoria Heights Congregational Church, St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Taft Homes, Madison Avenue United Methodist Church, St. Ann's Church and the Creve Coeur Community Center. Call 676-3000 for more information.

Peoria's RiverFront Market features Illinois grown produce, local meats, cheeses, fresh breads, herbs, and flowers...plus a great selection of local art including jewelry, pottery, wood-turned items, candles, and much more every Saturday Morning from 8 a.m. - Noon along Peoria's beautiful RiverFront. For more information, call 671-5555 or click HERE.

The 16th annual Mental Health Mile will be held at Detweiller Park on Sunday morning. The Women's Run will begin at 8 am followed by the Men's Run; a combined one-mile walk will start immediately after the races. Registration $20. Refreshments will be served to runners, walkers, and friends. Please plan to come walk or run with us, or cheer us on. Together we can make a difference in mental health services in our community.

The 18th Annual Home Builders Association of Greater Peoria Parade of Homes continues this Saturday & Sunday.  It's a free-style home tour and you determine your route.  This year's event features 20 homes, entered by 15 area home builders. Homes are located in Washington, Morton, Pekin, Brimfield, Edwards, Peoria, Dunlap, Rome and Chillicothe. See one, or see all 20 on your personalized tour.  All homes are open with free admission from 1-5 pm. Look for the Parade of Homes sign in the yard.  For more information, 699-5500 or click HERE .

Pioneer Days is Sunday at Sommer Park from 1- 4 pm. Experience the daily life of a rural Peorian in the mid-19th century by participating in blacksmithing, woodworking, gardening, and other activities. Admission is $2 per person, which includes hayrack rides. For more information, call 691-8423.

The Old Time Folk and Country Jam takes place Sunday at Forest Park Nature Center from 3:30 - 5 pm. Meet other musicians and learn some new songs. Music lovers of all ages are encouraged to come, listen and enjoy. Admission is free; however, donations are requested. For more information on either event, call 686-3360.

The Proctor Cycling Classic, an Illinois State Criterium Championship, will take placeon Sunday in downtown Peoria.  Hundreds of professional and amateur cyclists from across the United States are expected. Races will run throughout the day beginning at 8 am and will feature various categories from beginners to professional men's and women's races.  Again this year Classic Kid's races will begin at Noon during the Criterium. There will be big wheel races for children three and under and two cycling events for children age four, five, six, and - seven, eight and nine.  This event is free to spectators and free parking available plus food and refreshments will be available.   For more information call 370-8296 or click HERE.

The 42nd Annual Itoo Shish-Ka-Bob takes place this Sunday at the Itoo Hall on Farmington Road.  Enjoy a delicious Lebanese meal featuring their famous Lebanese cabbage rolls, tender hot off-the-grill shish-ka-bob cradled in pita bread, and a tasty Lebanese salad. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for kids under 12. For more information, call 676-9725.